News/Blog

Beaconsfield Hooking Crafters Guild - Annual General Meeting  Rose Kandy The Annual General Meeting was held on April 28, 2014 in Centennial Hall.  Twenty-four members were in attendance. Co-presidents Ti Seymour and Riitta Jackson chaired the meeting. They reviewed a list of 12 events, which took place or are ongoing. The Treasurer, Jacquie Bouchard, presented the financial report and proposed budget for the upcoming year which was approved by the members present.  Denise Morissette our Librarian reported that she is reviewing our books, magazines and dyes and recommended some new purchases of books and DVDs. The following members were elected  or re-elected unanimously to the new Executive: President: Ti Seymour, Vice-President: Linda Henderson, Treasurer: Jackie Bouchard and Secretary: Dawna Matthew. Members thanked the Executive for all the work they put in for the Guild and especially thanked our outgoing co-president, Riitta Jackson for her work over ...

Olde Forge Hook-In 2014- Report    By Ti Seymour and Louise G. de Tonnancour    All OHCG Region 1 hooking enthusiasts look forward to this springtime event. 89 participants at this year’s Olde Forge Hook-in in Ottawa, Ontario, gathered to renew friendships, hook, purchase wool and admire one another’s work. They came from Brockville, Deep River, Pembroke, Rideau Valley, Martintown, Merrickville, Ottawa , including twelve members from our own Guild in Beaconsfield, Quebec. On arrival, we were each gifted with a beautiful hand-made wool purse.   Later in the day, Lin Watson wore hers and graciously thanked the artists who made them. Lucie Deschamps warmly welcomed us and thanked the volunteers who worked behind the scenes to make the gathering successful. Four vendors were also present, selling patterns and many wonderful shades and textures of wool to tickle our fancy. Raffle tickets for a delicious basket of rug hooking wares were sold and I am excited ...

The Red House - Jacques Lepage The Red House - Jacques Lepage   This is my first rug which represents hours and hours of trials and errors. I began the original design by hooking the house and barn and the rest came along as I worked. The rug was hooked in #8 cut recycled wool on burlap. To finish, I whipped the edges of this rug which measures 12-3/4 in. x 29 in. Rooster and Chicken - Isabelle Rollin Rooster and Chicken - Isabelle Rollin The colour of a blazer inspired me to design this rug depicting a  Chicken and a Rooster; my favourite barnyard animals. This was my second rug which I hooked on rug warp using recycled wool. The rug measures 15-1/2 in. x 16-1/4 in. and is hooked with #4 and #6 cut wool. I finished it by whipping the edges. Oxen In Summer - Rose Kandy Oxen In Summer - Rose Kandy   This rug which measures 16 in. x 18 in. came in a kit form purchased from the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia (pattern #304 (c) 3H Designs). I...

Ontario Hooking Craft Guild - Reports by Branch Beaconsfield Hooking Crafters Guild (Area 1) This is the Quarterly Activities Report published in the Ontario Hooking Craft Guild Newsletter.  Click for a larger image. OHCG Newsletter_ Spring 2014 OHCG Newsletter_ Spring 2014, p.10

Course : $30  includes membership to BHCG + materials . Students will need: Hoop, Hook and Wool material. Dates : Saturday 8th February 2014, 10am – Noon and Saturday 22nd February 2014, 10am – Noon. Venue :  Le Coin Artisanal, Beaconsfield, Qc 1st Class : Will cover the basics of rug hooking; Transfer design onto backing; Learn how to use a rug hook.   2nd Class : Finishing off the project. Confirm Attendance : president.bhcg@gmail.com or Riitta Jackson: (514) 571-0540

Some pictures of  a Saturday Hook-In at Le Coin Artisanal! Members sharing tips ...and having fun Louise G. de Tonnancour Punch Needle Project  Louise G. de Tonnancour  Louise G. de Tonnancour Candance's Project Miss Silvia Squirrel Project A Storied Rug Project by Maria Romero Jackie's Project Sleepy-time Sheep Project Denise Vandenbemden's Project Bird Project Annie's Project We hook our projects in a very warm and creative place! Le Coin Artisanal offers workshops and a vast selection of yarns, wools, fabrics and crafting tools. An Intermediate Knitting Lesson at Le Coin Artisanal Paola Le Brun and Chandra Julie Poirier The Textile Corner

Farewell and Good Luck to Mayumi Takahashi by Ti Seymour   Members said farewell to Mayumi at the December Monthly Meeting.  Mayumi announced at the meeting that it was her last time at the Guild and she would be moving to Minneapolis-Saint Paul at the end of the Month.  We wished her the best of luck with her move and encouraged her to keep in touch.  We look forward to receiving photos of Mayumi's current projects completed.  So keep in touch Mayumi and keep on hooking!!! Mayumi Takahashi Keywords:  Thanks / Farewell,

New Year Lunch Saturday 18th January Noon Piazza Romana Pointe Claire Village 339 Chemin du Bord-­du-­Lac-­Lakeshore (514) 697- 3594

Presentation to the Knitting Guild    By Ti Seymour and Riitta Jackson    The Knitting Guild recently invited us to give a talk on Tuesday 14th January about Rug Hooking at their Monthly Meeting.    There were 20 knitters present. Candace Fradette kindly introduced us and we kicked off the evening with information about the Guild, followed by a very interesting account of the history of rug hooking.  We also talked about the varying styles, techniques and textiles as we passed around hooked pieces for everyone to examine.  Afterwards the knitters watched a "hooking" demonstration and were then welcome to try it for themselves.  Riitta had hooked a mug rug and Claire Fradette had hooked a pot holder to donate to the Knitter's monthly draw.  The lucky winners were very happy with their gifts.  Interest was generated about rug hooking and two lovely ladies signed up for receiving notification about the next Introduction to ...

New Flyers, business cards and bookmarks!    BHCG have new promotional material: flyers, business cards and bookmarks.   All three printed items displayed the same recognizable image that is part of our website, as well as our contact info, in both French and English.  Flyer - Designed by Maria Romero Flyer (French Version) - Designed by Maria Romero Bookmark - Designed by Maria Romero Business Card - Designed by Maria Romero

Sarah - Lois Morris Sarah by Lois Morris The original adaptation of a photo from my granddaughter’s portfolio (courtesy of Ed Flores) measures 25” x 19” and was hooked on rug warp with #2 cut wool.   I used white wool and  dyed 45 shades of blue from my own formula.  I dyed five–nine value swatches, 3 inches by 9 inches as well as 3 dip dyed pieces from the same formula. I had always planned to do portraits of my grandchildren, but not until they were their own person. So when Sarah graduated from university as a dancer and sent me this picture from her portfolio, I decided it was time. The original picture was in sepia and I didn’t want to work in those colours, so I decided to do it as a monochromatic in blue because when I started the project the theme for OHCG was “The Sound of Colour” and I was going to call it Rhapsody in Blue and toss in a few bars of the song. But as luck would have it, I needed to go bigger to get all the detail and lon...

BHCG’s Last Hook-In of 2013_ By Denise Vandenbemden December 16, 2013 started bright and sunny, the snow sparkled like a millions diamonds on our way to the last hooking session of the year. In Centennial Hall we were welcomed by a jolly Christmas ambiance. Our co-presidents, Riita and Ti, wore Santa Claus hats and, along with the other committee members, were busy setting tables with items being sold by members, wool and hooking supplies for an auction and items for a raffle that were also donated by members. Christmas music and the scent of fresh brewed coffee along with a kitchen counter loaded with savories and sweets put everyone immediately into a festive mood. 2014 will be the year of preparation for the 40th anniversary of our Guild in 2015 and the piggy bank has to be supplemented to cover the cost of those festivities. After the raffle tickets were sold, Louise, our fantastic designated auctioneer, took over – offering and praising each item with humor and pan...

Santa Claus - Hooked by  Mayumi Takahashi

Dye Course - November 2013_    by Jacqueline Bouchard    Having discovered the craft of rug hooking in the fall 2012, I immediately joined the Beaconsfield Rug Hooking Guild. I am gradually learning the vocabulary and the techniques. At first, I thought I could buy woolen fabrics in the exact colors I imagined or saw in the beautiful hooked rugs and pieces my clever and experienced co-hookers were creating. I was wrong! The colours of the many-hued blue skies, rose-petaled flowers or even pristine snow do not come in a bolt of fabric. They have to be created. This Fall I registered for the dye course given by Lois Morris, our experienced teacher, over three Monday mornings in November. I was given instructions to bring a note-book, a colour wheel and two sets of measuring spoons, one of which being spice spoons to measure a drop, a smidgen, a pinch or a hint. Very intriguing. When I arrived for the first session, Lois was spreading very interestin...

Matty Dye course taught by Lois Morris over 3 Mondays, from 10 AM to Noon, on November 11th, 18th and 25th. For more information or to register, please email the co-presidents.

The Sunflower Project Some pictures of  a Saturday Hook-In  at Le Coin Artisanal! Claire's Sunflower June's Sunflower Name that Hooker! Saturday Hook-In Ti's Sunflower Candance's Sunflower

Introduction to Rug Hooking by Ti Seymour On Saturday 19th October Riitta Jackson and Ti Seymour ran the first in a two part series of an Introduction to Rug Hooking.  Six adventurous ladies joined the class at Le Coin Artisanal in Beaconsfield and were given basic instruction on how to hook.  The newcomers were free to either go with a design already provided, design something themselves or bring along a kit.  It took little time for them to get to grips with their hooks and by the end of the first session all were confident to continue at home.  By the second class, all had made very good progress, one newcomer had finished her first piece and moved on to make a prodded sunflower! (1). Among the tales told that day, it was lovely to hear about a new members excitement to rush home from work to pick up her new hoop and hook and get down to some serious business ...... rug hooking. (1) A proddy is a tool that resembles long-nosed pliers and is us...

Betty Austin - Poppies In Flanders Fields By John McCrae, 1915 In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

Inaugural Saturday Hook-in At Le Coin Artisanal     On Saturday 5th October, 10 members of BHCG came together for the first of many Hook-Ins scheduled at Le Coin Artisanal – further dates are listed on the Beaconsfield Hooking Crafters Guild Website. LCA have a beautiful bright craft room at the back of their shop, not only did we have a fantastic place to hook, we also took advantage of perusing their wide variety of yarns and crafting supplies.  Shoppers at LCA were welcome to look at the pieces being worked on and encouraged to sign-up for the upcoming Introduction to Rug Hooking Class being run over 2 dates; 19th October and 9th November – further details of this class can be found on BHCG + LCA Websites. Co-Presidents and members present congratulated Carolyn Ells for receiving an honorable mention in “Celebration of Hand Hooked Rugs” for her rug “Ginger”. The Guild will have this edition of Celebration in its library very soon. Thank you to Claire Frade...